The Effect of Perindopril and Amlodipine on Brachial Artery Pulse Wave Velocities in Patients With Essential Hypertension

It is known that the brachial artery flow velocity as assessed by duplex Doppler ultrasound is changed in hypertension. The main purpose of this study was to assess the effects of perindopril and arniedipine on the brachial artery pulse wave velocity in essential hypertension. Blood flow profile and velocity of the brachial artery were determined noninvasively by pulsed Doppler ultrasound technique under the guidance of a B-mode ultrasound image. Thirty-two untreated hypertensive patients and ll control subjects matched for age and sex were included in the study. Hypertensive patients were classified into two groups which were treated either with amlodipine 5 mg or perindopril 4 mg and re-evaluatecl after 15 days. Patients with essential hypertension had significantly larger peak systolic velocity than those without it (71(18 cm/see vs. 45(16 cm/see, P<0.001). After antihypertensive treatment, significant decrease was found in the mean blood pressures of both groups (P<0.001). After treatment with perindopril, peak systolic velocity decreased (73±19 vs 58±14 cm/see, P<0.05) and duration of systolic flow prolonged (269±18ms vs 291±17ms, P<0.05). Also, after treatment with amlodipine, peak systolic wave decreased (68±15ms vs 55± 13ms, P<0.05) and duration of systolic flow prolonged (266±17ms vs 288± 1 8ms, PKeywords: Brachial artery, duplex Doppler sonography, essential hypertension